GREENVILLE, PA. Grants will cover a new dump truck

By LAURI GALENTINE
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
GREENVILLE, Pa. -- Purchase of a new dump truck and a suggestion for residents who want to address council will top the agenda Tuesday for Greenville Borough Council.
Council President Richard Houpt said the borough has received a $96,000 grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development and a $35,000 grant from the state Department of Environmental Protection.
Part of each will be used to buy a new dump truck for the borough's maintenance department.
He said they have received several bids for the vehicle and one of those will be approved at the council meeting Tuesday night.
What's proposed
Councilman David Henderson suggested keeping the old truck for use by the Greenville Area Leisure Services Association for maintenance at Riverside Park and the Sports Complex. He said the borough is being offered only $2,000 if the truck is used as a trade-in on the new one.
Since the borough pays for maintenance at both parks anyway, he felt it would save money in the long run.
Councilman Ian Scott Forbes disagreed. "It's another expense for the sports complex," he said.
Borough Manager Kenneth Weaver will bring to Tuesday's meeting the borough records of yearly maintenance on the truck along with the amount that is paid out on it each year, to help council decide whether to go with Henderson's suggestion, or just trade it in.
Policy change
Houpt suggested council also discuss making a slight change to its policy for putting residents on the agenda to speak at meetings.
He said no one will be denied the right to speak, but he feels that people should be told when they contact borough personnel that their issue will be acted on quicker if they take it to the proper committee first.
Most issues are referred to one other council committee after being brought up at a meeting anyway, he said, and the person has to make two presentations, and wait another month before any action can be taken.
Houpt said if the issue goes first to committee, and then to full council, he feels it can be acted on quicker.
Borough resident Alton F. Oakes has asked to speak against the sale of the town's water company at Tuesday's meeting.